Maiden Wins Filly Classic in Argentina

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By Mary Schweitzer and Diego Mitagstein
Vanguarda, a 3-year-old filly by Sekari, led from the start to win the Gran Premio Polla De Potrancas (Arg-I) at Palermo in Argentina on Saturday to not only record her first stakes victory, but also her first win ever. The bay filly took the lead at the break and had plenty left in the tank to hold off heavily favored Miss Atorranta by 2 1/2 lengths. Baby Melody was another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Vanguarda was the subject of sale negotiations prior to the running of the classic. Speculation as to her sale was so prevalent leading up to the race, that officials were unsure whether the filly was actually going to run. Her sire, Sekari, has done fairly well with limited opportunity. The son of Polish Precedent is out of Secret Seeker, a full sister to Gone West. His racing career in England was cut short due to injury. He stood his first season at stud in Kentucky at Payson Stud in 1999, before being sold to South American interests. Now, with a classic winning daughter among his offspring, greater opportunities for the stallion could follow.

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